Abstract

Collaborative projects with industry partners are critical to the relevance and success of the Swinburne University of Technology Product Design Engineering course. Such projects permit student access to critical ‘in-house’ industry experience and provide critical analysis and feedback from a commercial, not just educational, perspective.
This paper examines the final year ‘professional project’ where students choose a project direction through the identification of a strong social need, then collaborate with industry partners(s) to realise a successful product outcome. Partners offer technical and manufacturing knowledge or an understanding of the market and user needs. Final
outcomes are expected to be creative in design and innovative in the application of engineering theory, whilst meeting market needs and manufacturing objectives. The project is documented by a 16,000 word technical report containing the full rigour of academic research, design and engineering analysis.
Issues arise when student objectives and educational requirements conflict with the commercial constraints of the industry partner. The student’s learning experience and creativity may be restrained by economic or manufacturing restrictions imposed by their project partner. The project intent must be carefully aligned with the expectations of all
involved parties especially the technical partners who provide expertise and resources with the expectation of free research and development. Does the project result in design for production, or is it purely educational, albeit with a more informed commentary?